Either way, Feng Shui can promote positive energy and beauty so you are happy in your own home, office space, or other special place.

And you are probably excited to learn the basics of feng shui, such as the Feng Shui Bagua Map—the chart that shows how to map out various elements in accordance with the Feng Shui system.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is a Taoist system used to create harmony between the mind and the environment. It is one of the five arts of Chinese metaphysics and today is popular in the West as a means of redesigning homes and living space in order to cultivate positive energy.

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Feng Shui Basics: Chi, Elements & Feng Shui Bagua Map

The basics of Feng Shui are all about getting the right amount of energy flowing through a room.

The purpose of doing this is to create harmony between the mind and the environment (which is why Feng Shui is such an excellent accompaniment to meditation techniques).

We use Feng Shui to create positive energy and balance in the home, office or other areas.

Feng Shui is about designing our living spaces to maximise the flow of this central, universal energy, which is said to help us relax and to live health, productive lives.

Literally translated as “Wind” and “Water”, Feng Shui works on the assumption that, like its two titular elemental forces, all of life is driven by energy that flows and which can be blocked or allowed to flow more freely dependant on the layout and design of objects, buildings and space.

In Feng Shui, people are seen as being connected to the spaces they live in, and so by creating peace, flow and harmony in our living space we will achieve those things in ourselves too.

Each of these elements is distinguished by a set of attributes, shape and colours, as can be seen in the diagrams below.

Feng Shui Bagua Map

Feng Shui uses a chart called the Feng Shui Bagua map (above) to chart the areas of your home or office and determine where objects and colours representing the five elements above should be placed.

The traditional Feng Shui Bagua is an octagon, but modern approaches use a grid-shaped chart to map nine areas of your life:

Power/Wealth/Abundance

Fame/Future/Reputation

Love/Relationships/Marriage

Creativity/Children/Legacy

Compassion/Travel/Helpful People

Self/Career/Work

Knowledge/Wisdom/Harmony

Family/Health/Community

Well-Being/Balance

How To Read The Feng Shui Bagua

The Feng Shui Bagua (map) is a simple tool that helps us to decide how to use the space in the home, office, or elsewhere.

The bagua maps the specific spaces to the regions of our personal life. In this way, we can map the parts of our life to specific regions of the home, and increase the energies we need.

Here’s how to read the Feng Shui Bagua

Decide on the area you are focusing on (this could be the entire home or a specific area such as a desk)

Stand in the entrance of the room (the “Mouth”)

Hold the bagua so that the Wisdom / Career / Helpful people part is facing you.

Decide what part you are standing in. Then use the bagua map to determine where each section of the space is.

Introduce elements to the room in accordance with the Feng Shui bagua. This will increase the elements you need in the space where you need them.

The Basic Tools of Feng Shui

So, we’ve covered the core basics of Feng Shui. Now, let’s take a look at some of the basic tools and some of the things we can do to begin to increase the flow of Chi in our environments and create a harmony conducive to relaxation, positivity and productivity.

Lighting is the easiest way to quickly increase the flow of chi, especially full-spectrum light bulbs that simulate natural light. Fireplaces are also a source of light.

Art (painting, sculpture, or textile) can increase Chi. The selection and placement of art depends on the area of the bagua you need to activate. Art should reflect positive images and feelings.

Growing Things like flowers connects us to nature and can be chosen with the bagua in mind by selecting shapes and colours from the bagua to activate the areas of the bagua needed.

Water Features such as fountains and aquariums stimulate the movement of chi in and around your home or business.

Paul Harrison

Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher, author and journalist based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Paul has helped thousands of people to discover their true potential. Don’t miss Paul’s inspirational and enlightening book: Your Best Meditation